Engine valve-gear.



I R. G. STEVENS.

ENGINE VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1913.

1,125,204., Patented Ja11.19,1915.

. I l F, Al j l f I' I y,/ I My l Witnesses. 2:7

aoifiitirc. srsvsns s emr; PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNoa 'r'o sK'IT'NNns.ENGINE. COMPANY, or new, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE VALVE-GEAR.

meat.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

- Patented Jan. 19, 1915'.

Application filed January 25, 1913. Serial No. 744,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine Valve- Gear; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, forming part of this specification.

My invention-relates to valve-gear for operating engine-valves, and hasfor its objectthe provision ofelectro-magnetic mechanism adapted tooperate engine-valves to permit the passage of steam therethrough, to orfrom the piston-cylinder offan engine.

The features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out and explainedand are illustrated in the accompanying, drawings in which:

Figure 1, is a vertical, transverse section of an engine cylinderthrough one of the inlet valves thereof, showing .my invention placedthereon. Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic view of my invention. Fig. 3, is aview of the commutator mechanism of my invention,

flattened out.

In these drawings, A, indicates an engine cylinder, B, "anenginervalve', I B, i the valve stem, b, the spring for maintaining thevalve B, normally in a closed position; C, indicates the engine-shaft.

Upon the valve-stem B, I secure a yoke D, of brass or other non-magneticmetal. This yoke D, is preferably provided with a hollow cylinder 03,which fits over the valve stem-support, d, and is provided with a smallair vent hole d so as to act as a dashpot to prevent noise and injur tothe Valve B, by a too forcible closing 0 the valve 13, upon its seats.Upon the housing E, of the valve-stem B, I secure a support E, of brassor other non-magnetic metal and upon the upper end of this support E, Isecure an electro-magnetic device F, preferably of the solenoid typehaving its core F, secured 'to the yoke D, on the valve-stem B. Uponface of said element'g,"being suitably interspersed with non-conductingmaterial 9, of fiber or material of like nature. At the intermedlateportion of the surface of this commutator G, the electric conductingelement 9, 1s continuous around the entire circumference of thecommutatonwhile from desired points around said circumference it taperstoward the margins of the commutator as indicated by the referenceletter 9 The continuous portion of the conductor element g, is indicatedby the reference letter 9 Upon an arm H, secured to the engine frame, Islidably mount brush holders H, which supp'ortbrushes h, in contact withthe commutator G, on the engine shaft C. I also place upon the arm H, ina permanent position thereon, a brush holder H adapted to hold a brushit, in contact with the contmuous portion 9 of the electric conductmgelement g, of the commutator G. It will of course be understood, thatthe brushes h, h, and h, are electrically insulated in their respectivebrush holders. 7

I Mounted upon the engine frame I secure a governor mechanism J, whichis driven by means of a suitable power transmission device J, from theshaft C, of the engine, and is adapted to operate a bell-crank lever K.This bell-crank lever K, is operatively connected to the .slidable brushholders H, by means of the links K, and. K

From the electro magnetic device F, above the-valve at each end of thecylinder, electric conductors, L, extend to the brushes h, and anelectric conductor L, extends from the brush h, to one pole of anelectric generator M; from the other pole of the generator M, anelectric conductor N, extends to the opposite end of the coil. ineach ofthe electro-magl'ietic devices, connected with each of the enginevalves. When the commutator G, is in the position shown in Fig. 1, ofthe drawings, the course of the electric current will be from thegenerator M, through the conductor L, to the brush it, and from thencethrough the element g,

.on the commutator G, to the brush it, and

thence bv one of the conductors L, to the upper end of the coil in theelectromagnetic device F, and thence back by one of the conducto s N. tothe generator.

It will be obvious from the fore-going descrintion, that the rotation ofthe engineshaft C, and the commutator G, thereon I it ' gear,

tor to one pole will cause the brushes h, to beiii contact, alternately,with the elements g, on the commutator, thereby alternately breaking thecircuit communicating with each of the electro magnetic devices F, ateach end of the enginecylinder, thereby causing each of saidengine-valves"--1%,. to be alternately opened. It will likewise beobvieus" that as the speed of the governor mechanism J, increases, thebrush holders H, will be moved longitudinally on the arm H, so 'that thebrushes h, will not be in contact so long a time, with the element g, onthe commutator G, thereby permitting the valve B, to close in a shorterinterval after it has opened.

Having thus fully described my invention so as to enable'others toconstruct and use the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters-Patent is z- 1. The combination in an engine valve gear, of anengine cylinder, a valve communicating therewith, a valve-stem securedto said valve, a solenoid coil, a core thereon secured to. saidvalve-stem, an engine shaft, a circuit interrupter adapted to rotate inunison with said shaft, brushes in spaced relation to'each other adaptedto contact with said interrupter, an electric generator, an electricconductor leading from one pole of said generator to one pole of saidsolenoid, an electric conductor leading from the opposite pole of saidgenerator to one of said brushes, and another electric conductor leadingfrom the other of said brushes to the opposite pole of said solenoid,substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination in an engine valveof a valve, a valve-stem, a yoke ofnon-magnetic material secured to said valve-stem, a spring to retainsaid valve in a normally closed position, a solenoid coil supportedabove said yoke,a solenoid core withinsaid coil and secured to saidyoke,

an engine, shaft, a ,circuit interrupter adapted to rotate in unisonwith said shaft, brushes ins aced relation to each other contacting withsaid interrupter, a generator, a conductor leading from said generaofsaid solenoid, and another conductor leading from the opposite pole ofsaid generator to one of said brushes, and from the other brush to theopposite pole of said solenoid, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. The combination in an engine valvegear, of a valve, a valve-stemsecured thereto, a yoke of non-magnetic material secured on saidvalve-stem, a spring adapted to retain said valve in a normally closedposition, a solenoid coil above said yoke,.a solenoid core within saidcoil and secured on said yoke, an engine shaft, a circuit interrupteradapted to rotate in unison with said shaft, a stationary brushcontacting with said interrupter, another brush laterally movable withrelation to said stationary brush and contacting with said interrupter,a governor mechanism, lever mechanism adapted to be actuated by saidgovernor mechanism to move said movable brush, a generator, a conductorleading from one pole thereof to one pole of said solenoid, and anotherconductor leading from 'the opposite pole of said generator to one ofsaid brushes, and from the other of said brushes to the opposite pole ofsaid solenoid, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. The combination in an engine valve-gear of avalve, a valve-stemsecured to said valve, dash-pot mechanism adapted to be operated by saidvalve-stem, an electro-magnetic device adapted to raise said valve ofiof its seat, valve-stem and dash-pot mechanism in one direction, aspring to operate the same in the opposite direction, an engine-shaft, acommutator adapted to rotate in proper time with said shaft, brushesoperating on said commutator, an electric generator, an electricconductor, from one pole of said generator toone pole of saidelectro-magnetic device, and an electric conductor leading from theopposite pole of said gznerator to one of said'brushes, and from one ofthe other of said brushes to the opposite pole of said electro-magneticdevice, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination in an engine valvegear,,ofa valve, a valve-stemsecured to said valve, asupport for said valve-stem, a hollow cylinderhaving a closed end and provided with a vent opening, secured on saidvalve-stem and fitting over said valve-stem support, an out-turnedannular flange on said cylinder, a valve-housing inclosing saidcylinder, a spring on said cylinder between said out-turned annularflange and said valve-housing adapted to maintain said valve in anormally closed position, an electro-magnetic device adapted to operateto a open said valve, an engine shaft, a commutator adapted to rotate inunison with said shaft, brushes operating on said comma tator, anelectric generator, an electric conductor leading from one pole of saidgenerator to one pole of said electromagnetic device, and an electricconductor leading fromthe opposite pole of said generator-to one of saidbrushes and from one of the other of said brushes to the opposite poleof said electro-magnetic device, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in an engine valve gear of a valve, a valve-stemsecured to and for the purpose said valve, dash-pot mechanism adapted tobe operated by said valve-stem, an electromagnetic device adapted toraise said valve off of its seat, mechanism in one direction, a springto op valve-stem and dash-pot erate the same in the opposite direction,a circuit connected to said electro-n'iagnetic device controlling saidvalve, and a circuit interrupter operated by some moving part of theengine and controlling said circuit.

T. The combination in an engine valve gear, of a valve, a valve-stemsecured to said valve, a support for said valve-stem, a hollo\v cylinderhaving a closed end and provided with a vent opening, secured on saidvalve-stem and fitting over said valve-stem support. an out-turnedannular. flange on said cylinder, a valve-housing inclosing saidcylinder, a spring on said cylinder, between said out-turned annularflange and said valve-housing adapted to maintain said valve in anormally closed position, an electro-magnetic device adapted to operateto open said valve, a circuit connected to said electromagnetic device,controlling said valve, a circuit connected to said electro-i

